Three Hundred Big Boys

"Three Hundred Big Boys" is proof that sometimes a simple premise can be enough to fuel an entire half-hour of comedy; that premise being "What if you gave everyone on Earth an extra $300?" The results are surprisingly entertaining: Leela swims with a whale, the Professor buys de-aging stem cell cream, Fry consumes 100 cups of coffee, and Bender forgoes a $300 cigar in favor of stealing one that's $10,000 instead. While each purchase goes a long way in telling a unique, comedic storyline, what's even more impressive is how the they all interweave and resolve, as Fry's 100th cup of coffee sends him into an enlightened state that allows him to save everyone from a blazing fire in the blink of an eye.

19

The Day the Earth Stood Stupid

By and large, Futurama is a procedural TV show made up of mostly self-contained storylines. However, that isn't the case with Nibbler, Leela's adorable and seemingly brainless pet. Over the course of the series, we begin to learn that Nibbler is actually a strategic mastermind that occasionally recruits members of the Planet Express crew to ensure the safety of the universe. "The Day the Earth Stood Stupid" is the first in this series, most notably revealing that, for reasons unknown until later, Fry is immune to the attacks of an evil species called the Brain Spawn. In addition to kicking off a remarkably well-planned storyline for Fry, "The Day the Earth Stood Stupid" is also the first episode to feature Hypnotoad!

18

Naturama

"Naturama" is another anthology episode, this time reimagining the Planet Express crew as wild animals in a nature documentary. Again, this is told in three vignettes: "The Salmon," "The Pinta Island Tortoise" and "The Elephant Seal." Featuring inspired character redesigns and a Morgan Freeman-esque narrater, this episode is definitely one of the show's most eccentric efforts.

17

Space Pilot 3000

Hey, what's a TV show without its pilot? Aside from the fact that "Space Pilot 3000" is where it all began, this episode by itself deserves some recognition for successfully introducing us to a massive universe in just a scant 22 minutes, while also making it funny. Understandably, the concept of Futurama is a hard sell to most first-time viewers. Luckily co-creators Matt Groening and David X. Cohen came up with an engaging concept, and you needn't go any further than "Space Pilot 3000" for all the basics.

16

The Farnsworth Parabox

Not unlike "Three Hundred Big Boys," "The Farnsworth Parabox" is another example of just how far you can go with a single premise. Here, the conceit is "What if the Planet Express crew met their counterparts in a parallel universe?" Not only does this episode explore the alternate lives of Fry, Leela, Bender and the rest of the gang, but it also culminates in the discovery of numerous parallel universes, resulting in a wacky dime tour of humorous alt-worlds.